Georgia exported more than 5,000 passenger cars to Iran in the first half of 2026, compared with only five cars during the same period in 2025, representing a thousandfold increase in re-exports, Alexei Noniadze, head of the Georgian Car Importers Association, announced.

According to Noniadze, the rapid growth in trade with Iran could draw unwanted attention from Western countries and potentially expose Georgia to sanctions, The Caspian Post reports, citing bpn.ge.

“As trade with Iran grows, Georgia and our industry could attract unwanted attention. There is a risk that we could even face sanctions. If Iran, for example, replaces Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan and becomes Georgia’s largest re-export market, this could create a certain threat for the country,” Noniadze said.

He noted that Georgian car dealers had not initially planned a large-scale expansion into the Iranian market.

“There was no initiative from our side; the Iranians showed interest. We were not trying to enter and capture the Iranian market - it all happened naturally,” he said.

Noniadze suggested that Iran may currently be experiencing a shortage of transport vehicles.

“There appears to be a shortage of transport vehicles in Iran. This is likely 90% related to the events in the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing military operations there,” he said.

However, he added that Iran is unlikely to become a reliable market for Georgia in the long term.